On April 15, the members of the conference committee released its final version of the eviction and foreclosure moratorium bill. The final bill contains strong protections for renters and owners. It prohibits all non-essential evictions for tenants and small businesses, stops foreclosures, and directs financial institutions to grant mortgage forbearances at the request of homeowners. For a summary of the bill, click here.
Housing News
On April 13, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced that the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Command Center and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) are setting up regional isolation and recovery sites located in hotels across the state. Currently there are sites in Pittsfield, Lexington, and Taunton with more coming on line in the days ahead.
These locations are for individuals who:
On April 9, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh announced that 12 of the largest housing lenders in Boston will offer at least three months of deferred mortgage payments for homeowners who contact them and demonstrate they have been financially impacted by the crisis. In addition, the lenders have committed not to charge late fees, or report non-payments to the credit bureaus. Homeowners will not be required to pay back the deferred mortgage payments in a lump sum, but will instead work with lenders on an affordable repayment plan.
On April 2, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed an eviction and foreclosure moratorium bill (H.4615) to protect renters and home owners during the COVID-19 emergency. The bill prohibits all non-emergency residential and commercial evictions until 30 days after the end of the emergency declaration. It would prohibit all stages of evictions, including the sending of notices to quit, filing of new eviction cases, and executing a judgement for possession.
On April 7, 2020, CHAPA submitted comments to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in response to its proposed change to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule. There were over 2,600 comments submitted by the April 8th deadline.
On April 4, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh that the city will make $3 million available to assist Bostonians who are at risk of losing their rental housing due to the pandemic. The funds will help income-eligible tenants in Boston achieve housing stability by providing direct financial relief of up to $4,000 to assist with rental payments.
On March 31, Governor Baker extended the order requiring non-essential businesses to close their physical locations to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. The order, which began a week ago, on March 24, was set to expire at noon on April 7. The new order goes until May 4. The order still does not apply to essential businesses and workers, which includes housing construction.
On March 30, Mayor Walsh announced the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and the Boston Public Schools (BPS) are creating a new partnership to house up to 1,000 families with BPS students at risk of displacement and experiencing homelessness over the next year. The BHA will house up to 500 families living in shelters through the State's Leading the Way Home program, a partnership between the BHA and the State network of family shelters in which the BHA issues vouchers to displaced Boston families in shelter. The other 500 vouchers will be provided to families who are in pre
On March 28, Mayor Curtatone and the Somerville Board of Health announced an Emergency Order Establishing a Moratorium on Eviction Enforcement in the City of Somerville for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. The order, which applies to both residential and commercial evictions and goes into effect immediately, prohibits the physical act of eviction within the city limits so as to provide for the health, safety and stability of those who live in and serve our community.
On March 26, Governor Baker announced steps to keep vulnerable families in their homes, preserve the health and safety of low-income renters and homeowners, and prevent homelessness due to reduced or lost income. These steps include the following: